The male skeleton is bigger and gives them an inherent advantage - larger bones are generally stronger,' says endocrinologist Professor Ignac Fogelman, a consultant physician in nuclear medicine at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Trust. Stronger bones mean fewer breaks.
Men also benefit because they don't experience the menopause, which can cause sudden loss in bone density as a result of oestrogen levels dropping.
That is not to say men don't suffer bone loss as they age, but because they start with more bone, they can afford to lose a bit, says the National Osteoperosis Society.
Professor Fogelman adds: 'Men do get osteoporosis, but it is usually to do with genetic factors, long-term use of corticosteroids, alcoholism or unknown factors.'
Men also tend not to suffer from broken hips in old age. Breaking a hip is dangerous: one in ten patients dies within a month, a quarter within six months. 'The most common fracture in those over 80, the hip fracture, is relatively uncommon in men,' says Fogelman. 'Men don't live long enough.'
Women also lose out with osteoarthritis. According to the Arthritis Research Campaign, twice as many women as men get osteoarthritis in their hands and four times as many women as men get it in their knees. The genders are equal only when it comes to osteorarthritis in their hips.
Osteoarthritis is caused by wear and tear - again, men are at an advantage because they start out with bigger, stronger bones which can take more punishment.
Weaker sex: WOMEN
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-562627/Are-women-really-weaker-sex-The-intriguing-medical-facts-settle-oldest-argument-all.html#ixzz3zb7oBrik
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